Quick disconnect key holder



June 10, 1952 p PQUTINEN 2,599,660

QUICK DISCONNECT KEY HOLDER Filed April 4, 1950 8 27 4| FIGJO INVENTOR.

Paul T. Poutinen BY Patented June 10, 1952 UNITED STATES ICK D IWWNE IKEQ Q PW fi iiten. I]. Applicationfipril'd, 1950 seiei'a'iffia'istiiisz 1This invention relates to a holder ion-keys from which a'chain with abunch of keys thereon may be quickly disconnectedor separated-from theholder for use. a

Bunches of keys are usually carried -in-the pockets or pocket booksor-hand bags onchains thus making it necessary to make the chain smalland, theiastening latches correspondingly small with the result that itis difficult to manipulate the fastening latches making it troublesomeand time wasting to remove the keys.

It is desirable to carry all keys on a single holder for convenience andto save spac'eand it is also often found desirable to keep the keys forthe house, for example, in a bunch separate from the bunch of keys forthe automobile and garage, for example, so that either bunch may beremoved from the holder and handed to a person for use. i a

It is a primeobject of the present invention to provide a device forholding chains of keys at both of its ends, with at least one chain withthe keys thereon'beingquickly separated or disconnected from the devicefor use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ke holder with means forquickly mounting and demounting a key chain therefrom.

Still another object is to provide a key holder with novel meansat oneend for lockinga-key chain thereto. l

Yet another object is toprovide a holder of this kind that is simple andcompact and convenient for carrying on the person.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thedescription thereof to follow taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a key holder embodying oneform of my invention, showing key chains supported at both ends.

Fig. 2 is a detail plan view showing a key chain supporting unit.

Fig. 3 is a detail fragmentary side view of the unit of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an end view thereof looking from the left hand end.

Fig. 5 is an end view thereof looking from the right hand end.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the unit of Fig. 2 showing the stem inopen position.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of key chainsupporting unit, showing the stem in chain supporting position.

Fig. 8 is a similar view showin the stem in open position.

2 Claims. (cil-ite ts ni IiFig-Q 9 is' a sectional view-takenzon.theplane of -the lirie .s-aor Fi l Fig. 10 is atplan viewpartly in sectionshowing another modified term .of. key .holder. embodying myinvention.1Fig. 11 is a side view of another modification.

Referring to 4the. drawing; the formofkey hclder sl'iown in Figs. 1 to 6inclusive comprises anelongated cylindrical body. I0 of metal,preferably tubular. At one end, the body is closed and hasflanopeningll. extending therethrough for receivinggan.endlesschain 12 for holdinga launcher-keys? Iii-thereon. Thechain is provided:- with. the usualfastening latch M for fastening :and: .iunfastenin .its ends.

The-oppositeend ofthe body. is. closed by a key holding unit: comprisinga tubular casing l5 fitted therein?" The casingihas an extension iii ofreduceddiameten the bottom inner end of said extension forming an innershoulder :I'I. Slid- 'ableithrough the extension l6 and the casing I5is-astem or plunger It. The stem is formed with an internally screwthreadedsocket portion l9laxiallyof its inner end for receiving theshank .of a screw 20.: Encircling the inner end portion ofthe stem l8 isa helical spring 2|. One end of:theispringrseatson the head 22 of thescrew .andfits other'endimpinges against the shoulder I] of thecasingiwhereby the stem I8 is urged inwardlyfof the casing; :When thestem is inits innermostfposition;the head of the screw closes :the: openinner? end of the casing. The screw lserves to: adjust the. pressure ofthe spring.

J-The out'er end'of the stem l8 projects beyond the extension 16 of thecasing and is formed with a head 23 which is notched as indicated at 24forming a nose portion 25, or hook portion. The tip of the nose or hookportion is adapted to engage the upper edge of the extension I B andwith said extension forms an enclosure 26 as shown in Figure 2 forreceiving and locking an endless chain 21 carrying keys 28.

The stem is guided in its movement through the extension and easing bythe head 22 of the screw 20 and by a pin 29 carried by the stem andriding in an elongated slot 30 formed in the stem I 8 and intersectingits outer edge.

When it is desired to separate or disconnect the chain 21 with its keys28 from the holder, it is merely necessary to pull manually on the chainin the direction of the axis of the casing l5 against the action ofspring 2| whereby the stem or plunger will be moved outwardly of theextension l6 of the casing carrying its nose or hook portion 25 awayfrom the upper or outer edge of the extension l6 and carrying its pin 29beyond and free of the slot 30 and of the outer edge of the extension.The stem is then given a partial turn to bring its pin 29 to one side ofthe slot 30. When the manual pulling pressure is released, the stem willbe forced inwardly by the action of the spring 2i on the head of thescrew 29 until its pin 29 engages and abuts against the outer edge ofthe extension It thereby holding the stem in its outward position asshown in Fig. 6. The enclosure 26 will thus be opened and the chain 21with its keys may be quickly separated and disconnected from the hook ornose portion of the stem for use.

To replace the chain 27 with its keys on the holder, it is placed underthe hook or nose portion 25 of the stem and the stem given a partialturn back until its pin 29 registers with the slot 30 to permit thespring 2! to pull or force the stem inwardly of the casing and extensionand bring its nose or hook portion into engagement with the outer edgeof the extension to lock the chain on the holder again.

The chain i2 with its keys l3 may be separated from the holder byunfasternng its latching member M as is usual.

In the modified form of chain holding unit shown in Figs. 7 to 9,inclusive, the stem Si is formed with an annular groove 32 therearoundand with an elongated groove 93 therealong. The

extension 34 of the casing 35 is provided with an inwardly extending lug35 adapted to slide in the groove 33 when the stem is pulled outwardlyor moved inwardly of the extension. In order to hold the stem inoutermost position or open position, the stem is given a partial turnuntil its slot 33 is moved laterally of the lug 36 whereupon the lugengages the shoulder 37 on the stem formed by the annular groove 32 andprevents inward movement of the stem. To retract the E stem, it isturned back until the slot or groove 33 registers with the lug 39whereupon the'spring 98 will forcethe stem inwardly.

In Fig. 10, the chain supporting unit of Fig. 2 is shown slidablymounted in and closing one end of a casing 39 of a flashlight. Thecasing l of the unit is slidably positioned and is provided with acentral protuberance 49 which is adapted to engage the central contact Mof the battery 42 for closing the circuit through the lamp (not shown)in the flashlight, when the easing it is manually moved inwardly. Theother end of the flashlight casing supports an endless chain 43 or thelike with its keys 44 in the usual manner.

In Fig. 11, a flashlight 45 is shown having one end supporting andclosed by a chain supporting unit as in Fig. 10, but in this form ofunit the outer end of the head 46 of the stem I8 is enlarged orelongated and is provided with an opening 41 for receiving an'endlesschain 48 or the like with keys 49. No key chain is provided at theopposite end of the flashlight 45.

It will be understood that instead of an endless chain for holding thekeys, any suitable type of chain or other flexible fastening member or ametal ring may be used for holding the keys.

I claim:

1. A quick detachable key holder comprising an elongated tubular bodyclosed at one end and having a key chain supporting unit closing theother end of the body including a tubular casing and a spring controlledstem slidable in said casing, said stem having a notched portion adaptedto coact with said tubular casing for detachably receiving a key chainand means for holding the stem in moved position including a pin carriedby the stem adapted to abut against the end of the tubular casing.

2. A quick detachable key holder comprising an elongated tubular bodyclosed at one end and having a key chain supporting unit closing theother end of the body including a tubular casing and a spring controlledstem slidable in said casing, said stem having a notched portion adaptedto coact with said tubular casing for detachably receiving a key chainand means for holding the stem in moved position including a slot andstud connection between the stem and tubular casing.

PAUL T. POUTINEN.

REFERENQES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

